Pneumatic vibrator and press



Jan. 3, 1939 w. E. GROSS PNEUMATIC VIBRATOR AND PRESS Filed Feb. 15, 1938 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC VIBRATOR AND PRESS William E. Gross, Joppa, Md. Application February 15, 1938, Serial No. 190,599

2 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) the warfare agents, it has been proposed to draw the air through a device containing purifying chemicals. One such device is an elongated tube containing granular activated charcoal. It is desirable that the charcoal in these tubes be packed uniformly and to a maximum density without crushing the charcoal.

One object of this invention is to provide a machine wherein the activated charcoal may be quickly packed to uniform density in an air purifying tube.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine wherein the activated charcoal is uniformly compacted without crushing in an air purifying tube, and the cover for such tube is simultaneously positioned on the tube.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

Figure l is a front elevation of the machine with parts in section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the air purifying tube, with the lower end in section.

Figure 4 is a section of the check valve in one air line.

The machine comprises a frame formed of two side pieces I which may be channel irons, with a top channel 2 suitably secured to the side members, the whole machine being suitably mounted on a rigid base. The top 2 has supported therefrom an air cylinder 3 containing a double acting piston. The lower end of the piston carries a top chuck 4 which supports the upper end of the air purifying tube and seats the top thereof in place.

The air purifying tube shown in Figure 3 comprises a sheet metal tube having a bottom 6 and a top I. This tpbe is adapted to receive a definite quantity of activated charcoal granules which are heaped up about A, inch above the top rim. Tube 5 is then placed in the machine with the bottom 6 supported on bottom chuck 8. A cross support 9 is provided with a semi-circular recess I I arranged to receive the upper portion of tube 5 and hold it in alignment with upper chuck 4.

The lower chuck 8 is mounted directly over a pneumatic hammer l2 which causes thechuck 8 and filled tube 5 to vibrate. Details of the pneu- 'matic hammer are not shown as they form no part of the present invention. One form which has been used successfully has a 1.06 inch bore and an 8 inch stroke. Air pipe l3 supplies compressed air to the hammer under control of a valve it which is controlled by a foot lever I5.

controls the flow of air to air cylinder 3 and pneumatic vibrator l2. Pipe 5 is connected to a source of compressed air and has a cut-off valve ii, an air filter, sediment bulb and bleeder valve i8, and a lubricator [9 connected therein. The combination air filter, sediment bulb and bleeder valve l8 has a removable fine'mesh screen to strain or filter the air and is fitted with a pet cock at the bottom for drawing 01f accumulated water. Lubricator l9 slowly feeds drops of light lubricating oil into the air supply to lubricate the vibrator and air cylinder. Pipe I6 is connected to control valve l4.

Also connected to valve [4 is pipe 2| which allows air to flow to the vibrator I2 and to the upper end of air cylinder 3. Pipe l3 from vibrator I2 is joined to pipe 2! with an adjustable cut-off valve 22' interposed in the line. By adjusting valve 22 the severity of the hammer blows to the vibrator may be varied to suit the requirements of different lots of chemical tubes and charcoals.

Pipe 23 having cut-off valve 24 therein is connected to control valve 14 by way of pipe 2| and leads to the upper portion of air cylinder 3. Pipe 25 is connected to control valve l4 and to the lower portion of cylinder 3. A check valve 26 is interposed in line 25, as shown in Fig. 4. Valve 28 has a pivoted valve member 21 with an opening 28 therethrough. When air under pressure rises in pipe 25 from control valve M, member 21 remains on its seat and the air passes through opening 28, so that the piston in air cylinder 3 rises slowly without jar. When the piston descends due to pressure above it, the valve member 2'! opens and allows rapid descent of the piston.

Operation of the machine is as follows. The tube 5 is filled with charcoal or other material to be compacted without crushing, the charcoal usually being heaped over the open upper end. The lower end 6 of the tube is then placed on lower chuck 8, the upper portion being positioned Valve [4 is a four-way, two-position valve which 7 rapidly, since check valve 26 opens fully, and

cover 1 is lightly seated on the upper end of tube 5.

Vibrator I2 taps chuck 8 which causes a uniform settling and compacting of the charcoal; The piston in air cylinder 3 allows a slight reciprocation of tube at each impact of the vibrator, without however interposing sufiicient're-- sistance to cause deformation of the tube 5. This yielding upper chuck 4 gradually forces the top I in place in tube 5. It will be seen from Figure 3 that the top is centrally cupped so that the cupper portion enters tube 5 about inch;

Pressure on pedal I5 is then released and a spring thereon reverses the valve l4, so that air is cut off from pipe 2| and enters pipe 25. Vibrator l2 stops, air cylinder 3 gradually .and steadily raises chuck 4, and the filled tube is removed and'another tube inserted.

Activated charcoal compacted into tubes by this invention is not crushed and is packed to an even density and during subsequent use and rough handling will not channel. The tubes may be readily inserted and removed and the compacting is rapidly accomplished, usually in about 15 seconds.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction herein shown by way of illustration, since changes and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention nor exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for compacting loose material in a container comprising an upper chuck and a lower chuck for vertically supporting a container, a vertically movable piston mounted in a cylinder, said piston carrying the upper chuck, a pneumatic hammer arranged to impart vertical blows to the lower chuck, compressed air supply pipes connected to said cylinder above and below said piston and to said pneumatic hammer, a four-way two-position valve connected to a source of compressed air and to said pipes, said connections being so arranged that one position of said valve connects the source of compressed air to the cylinder above said piston and to the hammer, whereby the upper end of the container is resiliently pressed downward while the lower chuck is being tapped by the hammer, the other position of the valve admitting compressed air below the piston to raise the upper chuck and to out off air to said hammer.

ascent thereof.

WILLIAM E. GROSS. 

